Thoughts on being a pro... earning no money!!!

So I have been contemplating being a pro at this day and age in the PDGA era, and I have come to some conclusions.

1. We make absolutly no money to support ourselves as the pro payouts are generally terrible.

2. Unless you tour to hit the 'big' events, don't quit your day job.

Why is this? Why is ball golf supporting so many pros and disc golf is not? I have heard the no corporate sponsors bit and agree, but why is this sport so cheap for pros?

What do you think about making the sport cheap for ams and casuals but somehow upping the ante for professionals. Start pay to play at some of the better courses and increasing entry fees substantially at tournaments. If you want to pay 40 bucks to play a tourney, play am, have fun goofing around and make open pro more serious.

Replies to This Discussion

It is already going mainstream with the kids coming in, the kids from the older guys playing. Unfortunately those kids are following suit and realize that they are not doing a whole bunch to grow the sport either.

Ever try explaining disc golf to a complete stranger, for one most don't care and it's like talking to a "deer in the headlights." Only disc golfers think it is cool. Out side of disc golf no one really cares. Everyone has their own agendas.

But as far as ESPN, they need advertisers, numbers and money. The big things that disc golf is without.

Until we realize it as a group, it will take a huge effort, to clean up our act and grow up and see it for what is real and unreal nothing huge is going to happen.

First off complaining about not making enough money to live off and how much time you have to put into your game is obsurd! If you were as talented as Climo, Doss, Jenkins, E-mac, Locastro or Schultz then you would be at super tour events, sponsored, traveling the world and making enough money. If you also payed attention to the PDGA then you would know that they plan on seperating the sports elite from the rest of us so that these guys can take disc golf to the next level yet keep the amatuer happy with local clubs, leagues, tourneys and schwag.

It is sad to hear disc golfers upset by the fact that they can play the sport they love for virtually free and be involved with it on a number of levels. First off, disc golf will never be like ball golf nor should it be! There are roughly 2500+ courses in the US (per pdga stats) all of which would have to either be removed/privatized. The courses on public land would have to be removed in order to make this transition to a business possible to discontinue free play. The remaining private courses (pay to play) would then be able to charge golf prices and set a dress code along with making disc golfers set a tee time to be able to play. If this stage was a success one would have to expect equipment prices to go up so that the main manufacturers can make enough money to function as a successful business yet have millions to throw into advertisement at top events. After both of these things happened the PDGA would set standards for players to make it on the PDGA tour as a pro player. More than likely they would implement invitationals and other qualifying events but the ability to show up at a tourney and sign up in the open division (or as a pro) would be gone. No more five dollar league nights cause the courses are privatized. No more ace pool cause it would be illegal gambling. And local tournaments would not be sponsored by local clubs (which would see their demise) but by the course that charges you to play and the big corps in your area that already sponsor these events. I am exhausted from all the complaining about how bad disc golf and the PDGA are currently operating and trying to make you see the light! We have a beautiful thing here, why ruin it? If this ever happens disc golf will just be another sell out to the corporate world and capitalistic America. And for all of you that are on this forum who play open now, there are probably only a handful of you that would make it on the newly established tour to make the big bucks and the rest of us open players would be left in the dust paying high prices just to play and playing at only local charity tournaments.

If course privatization is needed to take control of the situation I think you will lose most of the metropolitan areas in the United States as viable area to play disc golf. I live in Orange County in Southern California and to buy 30-60 acres to build a course you would have to spend multiple millions of dollars. Playing fees would be hundreds of dollars and out of reach for all but the elite.

quick question..... did you make money when you first started playing disc golf??? of course not you did it because it was fun. playing in pro or open division just means you think you have what it takes to be the top dog. payouts generally are pretty good, you win more money than your entry fee and if you keep throwing away money for an entry fee and can never find yourself close enough for a good payout maybe you should drop down to advanced. and if you do win and just become money hungry and want to get paid by doing what you love, perfect your game, get a big sponsorship from innova, discraft , or some big company and go see if you can beat ken climo for the big bucks. dont be disappointed when he kills you on the course and you spend all that money on an entry fee and get sent home with your tail between your legs....